Nahanni National Park Reserve, National park reserve in Northwest Territories, Canada
Nahanni National Park Reserve is a protected area in the southwestern Northwest Territories, built around the South Nahanni River and its tributaries. The landscape includes deep canyons with rock walls, hot springs, waterfalls, and valleys shaped by glaciers.
The United Nations recognized the area as a World Heritage Site in 1978, among the first four natural sites worldwide. The Canadian government later expanded the reserve boundaries significantly to include additional watersheds and ecosystems.
The indigenous name Nahʔą Dehé connects the reserve to Dene communities who have lived and hunted across this region for thousands of years. Visitors see traces of this deep connection through traditional routes along the waterways and at plant gathering sites.
Travelers reach the reserve by charter plane or boat, as no roads lead into the remote wilderness. Reservations must be made months ahead, especially for summer months when conditions favor paddling and hiking.
Nailicho, also called Virginia Falls, drops 90 meters (295 feet) into a gorge and creates constant mist that allows rare orchids to thrive on land. The spray cools the air and creates microclimate conditions otherwise found only at much lower latitudes.
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